Athletics: Former Warrior Smith to be inducted

By Dispatch staff report

September 20, 2022 02:35 PM

MANKATO — Brainerd High School graduate and member of the Warriors 1995 State baseball championship team Josh Smith will be inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato Athletics Hall of Fame Friday, Sept. 23.

Smith, a 1999 MSU graduate is being inducted in the student-athlete category. He was the 1998 North Central Conference Most Valuable Player after hitting .559 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in conference play to earn the league’s ‘Triple Crown’ title.

He played in 115 consecutive games for the Mustangs and was named the team’s MVP in 1998. He held the school record for career home runs with 29. He is also the all-time leader in total bases with 319 and is fourth in career RBIs with 122.

He was a two-time All-NCC selection.

The four-year starter helped lead the Mavericks to three NCC championships and three NCAA tournament appearances.

Smith will be joined in the induction ceremony with women’s track and field national champion Lauren (Stelten) Svoboda (MSU ‘11), women’s basketball player Alex (Andrews) Shepp (‘09), national champion wrestler Troy Szydel (MSU 1996-99) and All-American men’s basketball guard Jefferson Mason (2009-11).

By Dispatch staff report

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Athletics: Former Warrior Smith to be inducted

Josh Smith will be inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato Athletic Hall of Fame.